St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-06-30
MISS COMEoRT.
The washing Bill of the second stor
Boarder.


"Men go on credit said she, "and
why shouldn't women7 At the years
end, if l can't any more than pay ex-
penses, I'll try something else.n
But at the years end there was
snug little balance in Miss Comforts
favor, so she took heart of grace and
continued i'm her business.
"Oh, it's you, is it Z" said Miss Com
fort Walker, as she perceived Ellen
O'Brien, the washerwoman, in the
basement hall.
"Yes, it's me, worse luck, Miss Com
fort" whimpered poor Ellen.
"And what's the matter Z"
"It's me bill up stairs, Miss Com
fort-the bOarder in the second story
front, wild the gay, goold shirt studs
an the green and yellow stones in his
sleeve buttons. Nine dollars and siv-
inty cents, Miss Comfort-six weeks
washing and irOning-and now, when
L make bould to ak him would he be
pleased to pay me, he tells me it isn't
convanient. And when I tells him
how sore l need money, he up aud
gets mad and says l shan't have it at
all.n
Miss Comfort stood listening, with
knitted brow and troubled, black eyes.
"Have you got your bill with you,
Ellen ?" said she, after moments hes
itatiOn.
"Jimmy wrote it out, all nate and
proper" faltered Ellen, producing
crumpled slip of blue paper from her
pocket.
"Give it to me-" said Miss Comfort
Walker, "and come here this evening
at 8 o'clock, and you shall have your
money"
Ellen shook her head discOnsolately.
"And thank you all the same, Miss
Comfort, DEAR" said she, "but you
can't get it no mOren' we can get blood
from stOne."
"We'll see about that" said Miss
Comfort.
She went slowly up stairs, with the
little piece of paper in hand.
''It's shame," said Miss Comfort.
LeOtard CarlyOn was Miss Comfort
Walkers best bOarder, with the single
exception that, up to the present mo-
ment, his twenty five dollars week
had been in the future. Now, it so
Glanced that one reason for her repOs-
ing so much confidence in Mr.. LeOtard
CarlyOn, the new bOarder, was that he
was the nephew and heir apparent of
Caleb CarlyOn, the rich banker, from
whom she rented her brown stone
house, at the trifling consideration of
So, 900 per annum.
SHE can't be thorough going i'm
pOstor," said she to herself, "with such
relations as that"
So she went bravely up to Mr.. Carl
yOn's room and tapped at the door.
"COme in" he called out. ooh, it's
you, Miss Walker, is it 2"
Miss Comfort advanced valiantly
with the bill in her hand to where
Leotard CarlyOn reclined languidly
amid heap of sofa pillows, with a
newspaper in his hand.
"Don't you think you could settle
this little account, Mr.. CarlyOn 2" she
said. "The poor woman needs it very
much"
Leotard Carlyon's handsome black
brOws darkened.
"She has been to you with her story,
has she 2" snarled he. "No, l can't
settle it And l wouldn't if | could.
It's worth more than the money to me
to be badgered and beset. Have the
to remember that / am able to attend
out any extraneOus interference"
"That means that l am to attend to
my own business" thought our little
housekeeper, as she reiterated, coloring
and rather indignant. "Well, l will
for consider it my duty to obtain re-
dress for the unfortunate"
So Miss Comfort tied on a little
brown velvet hat she had trimmed
nj Il LOT, nd
leaves and set out bravely for the
Mount Orient bank.
The clerks stared little curiously
as she was shown into the presidents
room at the back, where Mr.. Carlyon
sat, straight and upright, with blue
eyes like falcon and hair slightly
sprinkled with gray.
He elevated his brOws at sight of
Miss Comfort Walker.
81 believe your rent is not due for
month yet, Miss Walker" he said,
with the cold courtesy, which always
made her feel as if he were encased in
an armOr of ice.
''No," said the little lady, courage
Ously, "but it's about your nephew,
Mr.. LeOtard CarlyOn," and she told the
story of Ellen and her wrongs.
''He ought to pay the money!" said
Miss Comfort, excitedly. ale must be
made to pay the money"
"May 1 ask, Miss Walker, why you
interest yourself so markedly in this
affair ?" the banker asked with cold,
ly with the little wOman's heat and
| furry.
"AnOther way of telling me to mind
my own business" said Miss Comfort
to herself. But she kept up bold
front and answered:
because | think no man has right
earned money"
"Cheat is a strong word, Miss Walk
en-" observed her landlord.
"It's the only correct word in this
case, Mr.. CarlyOn," retOrted Miss Com
fort, secretly marvelling at her own
courage in thus daring to confront the
stately banker.
"Perhaps he is owing something to
yourself 2" questioned the banker keen
ly.
eyes, sir; he is" Miss Comfort made
answer. "But it isn't that | came
about. am quite able to attend to
my own financial affairs, even to lose
little if it should be necessary, but
this poor woman is friendless and
alone"
Mr.. Carlyon glanced at his watch.
Miss Comfort turned toward the door.
'Fm very sorry that my time is no
longer at my own disposal" said he
cOurteOusly.
And Miss Comfort went away almost
crying.
ENOw I've made an enemv of hin,
as we'll as Mr.. Leotard, and haven't
done the least bit of good" she thought.
"And he will let the house to some one